Healthy Cherry Pie Oatmeal Bars

For a great, on the go snack, Healthy Cherry Pie Oatmeal Bars are a wonderful option. They’re made with rolled oats, maple syrup, and cherries, so you KNOW they’re good!

Your new favorite cherry snack

Picture this: It’s Friday afternoon, you’re at work, and the hours are dragging. You feel your body crashing and desperately need a pick-me-up. That’s when you remember that you packed a healthy cherry pie oatmeal bar! The day is saved, and Present You thanks Past You for the snack.

Okay, maybe things aren’t quite that dramatic, but I’ll be honest — these cherry pie bars are an absolute treat. Made with rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and cherries, these bars are a great option for a nutritious, sweet treat. They also double as a breakfast bar, because after all, they do have 4.4 grams of protein each!

This recipe makes 9 delicious bars that are perfect for meal prep or enjoying at work throughout the week.

Ingredients in healthy cherry pie oatmeal bars

The ingredients for this recipe are divided into two parts: the dough base, and the cherry filling/center. Each one consists of deliciously sweet ingredients (though we’re only using natural sugar!).

Dough Base

• Rolled Oats: 1.5 cups of rolled oats will serve as the base layer of the bars.
• White Whole Wheat Flour: Thicken the dough crust with 1 cup of white whole wheat flour.
• Salt: Add 1/4 tsp of salt for flavor.
• Cinnamon: 1/2 tsp of cinnamon will add a yummy, earthy taste.
• Egg: 1 egg helps all of the dry dough ingredients come together.
• Maple Syrup: Throw in 1/3 cup of maple syrup for a natural sweet taste.
• Coconut Oil: Combine everything with 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil.
• Vanilla: Finally, 1 tsp of vanilla brings the dough together!

Cherry Filling

• Cherries: For the filling, start with a heaping 10oz bag of frozen cherries.
• Lemon Juice: 1 tbsp of lemon juice will add a delicious tarty taste.
• Maple Syrup: For more natural sweetener, add 3 tbsp of maple syrup.
• Arrowroot Powder: Last but not least, 2 tsp of arrowroot powder thickens the filling and creates the perfect texture.

Tools used to create cherry bars

To make this recipe you will need two large bowls, an 8×8 pan, parchment paper (or nonstick spray), something to stir, a potato masher (or fork), and a saucepan.

For measuring, you will need 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make homemade cherry pie oatmeal bars

Cherry pie bars come together in hardly any time at all. Just mix, combine, layer, and bake!

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, salt, and cinnamon until well combined.

In a separate large bowl, whisk the egg, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir the mixture until a dough forms.

Save 3/4 cup of the dough to the side, and press the remaining dough into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. Set the pan aside when finished.

In a saucepan, heat the cherries, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Once the cherries start to release liquid, press them down with a potato masher or fork to break them up.

Add the arrowroot powder and whisk the mixture.

Let the mix simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes and be sure to stir it often. It should thicken up after simmering for a bit.

Pour the sherry mixture over the dough crust and sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of dough on the top.

Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Storing your healthy snack bars

To store extras just let them cool, cut into desired sizes, and place in a container. You can keep them on the counter or refrigerated.

If you want them for snacks throughout the day at work, you could even cut them up into bite size pieces for snacking throughout the day.

Oatmeal bar variations

If you’re like me, you like to spice up your recipes. While the cherries are a crucial part of this recipe, don’t be scared to try out different types of berries to completely change the taste! Blueberries, blackberries, or even diced strawberries would be great!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Satisfy cravings with some of my other hit flavor combos, like berry crumble or pecan pie!

• Healthy Peanut Butter Crisp Bars
• Triple Layer Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
• Berry Crumble Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan)
• Healthy Pecan Pie Bars
• Paleo Turtle Bars

Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.